A few people have been telling me that health food stores can be intimidating, and I agree! I felt totally lost at first. There were so many ingredients and items that I had never heard of, not to mention the aisles of bulk bins! So here is a little “cheat sheet” to get you started!

Oils and Vinegars

• Organic extra virgin olive oil
• Organic coconut oil
• Organic grapeseed oil
• Grapeseed oil cooking spray
• Coconut oil cooking spray
• Flax oil
• Toasted sesame oil
• White vinegar
• Balsamic vinegar
• Organic raw apple cider vinegar
• White wine vinegar

Spices

• Celtic sea salt
• Himalayan pink salt
• Pepper
• Black peppercorns
• Chili powder
• Curry powder
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Ground mustard
• Mustard seeds
• Cumin
• Tumeric
• Paprika
• Cinnamon
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Cayenne
• Ground Coriander
• Coriander seeds
• Celery seeds
• Dried basil
• Italian seasoning
• Dried oregano
• Dried dill
• Dried parsley
• Dried thyme
• Dried parsley
• Dried rosemary
• Bay leaves
• Kelp granules
• Kombu
• Vanilla extract

Sweeteners

• Raw organic honey
• Grade B maple syrup
• Dark liquid stevia
• Xylitol

Items from the bulk bins

• Brown rice pasta
• Brown rice
• Quinoa
• Almond flour
• Pepitas
• Sesame seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Flax seeds
• Dried cranberries
• Raisins
• Dates
• Raw almonds
• Red and green lentils
• Chia seeds
• Black beans
• Steel cut oats
• Nutritional yeast flakes
• Shredded coconut

Sauces and Broths

• Sugar-free marinara
• Fish sauce
• Hot sauces
• Mirin
• Worcestershire sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Low-sodium organic chicken broth
• Organic vegetable broth
• Organic turkey gravy

Beverages

• Coconut water
• Whey protein powder (for smoothies)
• Organic tea bags

Baking

• Baking powder
• Corn starch
• Gluten-free bread crumbs
• Gluten-free pancake mix
• Dry active yeast
• Xanthan gum

Snacks

• Homemade roasted almonds
• Homemade roasted chickpeas
• Homemade brown rice tortilla chips
• Seaweed snacks
• Mary’s crackers and pretzels
• San-J crackers
• Dried fruit

Cans and Jars

• Black beans
• Garbanzo beans
• Corn
• Tomato paste
• Wild tuna
• Roasted red peppers
• Sun-dried tomatoes
• Applesauce
• Tahini

I find that with these items on-hand, I can make just about any recipe I want to (in addition to the fresh produce I keep in the fridge). I always recommend buying everything organic, if possible, so that you can be guaranteed that your food is truly clean and free from harmful pesticides and other chemicals. I keep the items from the bulk bins in large mason jars, which is great for organizing and being able to see what you have available. As an added bonus, the jars also look really pretty!

Enjoy the shopping experience and take the time to learn about what you are buying. I promise you’ll find that after a couple of trips to your local health food store that you are navigating the aisles like a pro!